UT San Antonio Fall 2025 Commencement ceremonies are Dec. 15. This story is one in a series about the university’s outstanding graduates.
One student who walks across the stage this fall has had an educational journey with UT San Antonio over 20 years in the making.
Curtis Muniz first enrolled at the university in 2002 and took several summer courses to supplement a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience he was working toward at Texas Christian University.
After completing that degree and spending nearly two decades in the pharmacy and insurance industries, Muniz found himself seeking a career change. He was increasingly drawn to the cybersecurity field due to rapid advancements in technology and its prevalence in everyday lives.
“The world as we know it has become so dependent on computers,” Muniz said. “I wanted to do something I have a deep passion for, something that is cutting edge and would have a constant need for skilled professionals.”
To jumpstart his professional pivot, the San Antonio native returned to UT San Antonio in fall 2021, this time enrolling in the university’s online cybersecurity program.
The top-ranked program is led by the same world-class faculty who lead the university’s in-person courses.
As a non-traditional student who valued flexibility, Muniz saw UT San Antonio Online as the clear choice. The program allowed him to continue his education while fulfilling other obligations, like working a full-time job and caring for his family.
“If it was not for an online program, I don’t know how I would have been able to do it,” he said.
Building community
Taking courses online did not prevent Muniz from developing a support system of peers and professors. Despite the remote learning environment, he connected with classmates who shared similar goals and who encouraged one other’s success.
“Even as an older student who is in the online program, I’ve been able to make some good friends,” he said. “We have been able to support each other, learn from each other and be a listening ear.”
He also credits faculty from the information systems and cybersecurity fields, John Newsom and Rita Mitra, for playing a key role in his journey.
“Dr. Newsom was one of the best, and Dr. Mitra was a mentor to me,” Muniz said. “She helped me in some tough times where I needed some extra support.”
This supportive group was especially important as Muniz navigated personal hardships during his studies, including the death of his mother and his father’s dementia diagnosis.
“Life is hard, and just because you are in school doesn’t mean it eases up,” he said. “I was challenged with life’s nuances and all the monetary challenges you can imagine. But you’ve got to remain driven and learn to use your resources to help you overcome and prosper past those challenges.”
This December, over two decades after taking his first courses at UT San Antonio, Muniz will earn a bachelor’s in business administration in cybersecurity with a minor in digital forensics.
Following graduation, Muniz hopes to pursue a master’s degree or obtain industry certifications to further strengthen his resume as he enters his new career.
“I am grateful for the online opportunity — it is a true blessing in disguise,” he said. “It’s never too late to be what you could have been, and thus, here I am.”
